Sydney’s second airport lands its first passenger trial flight ahead of a 25 October opening

Update — 25 September 2026: a correction — the first international airline had already been named

A correction. On 1 September we wrote that we would update this article when the first international carriers at the new airport were confirmed. Air New Zealand had already announced, on 17 July, that it will be Western Sydney International’s first international airline, with three return flights a week between Auckland and Western Sydney from 26 October 2026 — on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, using A320 and A321 aircraft. We should have reported it.

Nothing else in the report below has changed: the airport opens on 25 October with Jetstar, and nonstop flights between India and Sydney continue to use Sydney (Kingsford Smith) Airport. The original report of 1 September follows unchanged.

Singapore Airlines will also fly to the new airport: daily between Singapore and Western Sydney from 23 November 2026, subject to regulatory approvals, with an Airbus A350-900, the airline announced on 24 March. SQ201 is scheduled to leave Singapore at 11:30 and arrive at 22:20; SQ202 leaves Western Sydney at 23:55 and reaches Singapore at 05:05 the next morning. That gives travellers from India a one-stop option into Western Sydney via Singapore from late November.

What happened

On Tuesday 1 September 2026 a Jetstar Airbus A320 landed at Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport at about 9:30 am and departed at about 3:20 pm, according to Airservices Australia, as part of operational readiness testing of the new passenger terminal. Volunteer passengers tested self check-in, bag drop, security screening with extended lanes and body scanners, aerobridges, refuelling and baggage handling.

Australia’s infrastructure minister Catherine King said it was the first time a Jetstar passenger plane had come in to land at the new airport. Matt Duffy, the airport’s chief operating officer, said thousands of volunteers were expected to take part in trials before opening. Commercial passenger services begin on 25 October 2026, with Jetstar’s inaugural flight to the Gold Coast.

What it means for Indian travellers

From late October, Sydney has two airports: Kingsford Smith, close to the city and the harbour, and Western Sydney International at Badgerys Creek, about 45 kilometres west. International flights from India will continue to arrive at Kingsford Smith for now; the practical point for anyone planning Australia over December and January is to check which Sydney airport a domestic connection or a low-cost leg departs from, because a transfer between the two is a road journey, not a terminal change.

Airport World notes the trial flight came 54 days before opening. We will update this article when the first international carriers at the new airport are confirmed.

Sources

This report is based on the following published sources. Rules and schedules change — confirm with the issuing authority before you travel.

• Upcoming test flight for passenger operations — Airservices Australia
• Trial Jetstar passenger flight handled at Western Sydney — Airport World, 01 September 2026
• 100 days to go: Air New Zealand to be the first international airline at new Western Sydney Airport — Air New Zealand, 17 July 2026
• Singapore Airlines to launch daily services to Western Sydney International Airport in November 2026 — Singapore Airlines, 24 March 2026